open access

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)
Original article
Submitted: 2021-06-10
Accepted: 2021-07-06
Published online: 2021-09-29
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The outcomes of COVID-19 measures in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy centre during the pandemic

Kubra Ozgok-Kangal1, Taylan Zaman1, Bayram Koc2
·
Pubmed: 34604994
·
IMH 2021;72(3):228-236.
Affiliations
  1. Department of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Science, Ankara, Türkiye
  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Ankara, Türkiye

open access

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)
HYPERBARIC MEDICINE Original article
Submitted: 2021-06-10
Accepted: 2021-07-06
Published online: 2021-09-29

Abstract

Background: A hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment session carries a high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission since patients stay in a closed area for 2 hours. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the preventive measures taken in the HBO centre.
Materials and methods: This study evaluated the measures taken during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for multiplace hyperbaric chamber operated in department (Health Sciences University-Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey) between March 16th, 2020 and December 31st, 2020. The medical records of patients who underwent HBO treatment during this period were evaluated retrospectively. Their demographic attributes, the presence of risk factors, HBO indications, HBO session data, and COVID-19 inquiry forms were analysed.
Results: A total of 122 patients underwent HBO treatment, and 150 people were subjected to pressure tolerance test (PTT). No COVID-19 case was treated with HBO in our department. The hyperbaric chamber was operated 608 times in total. Of these, 9.7% (n = 59) procedures were carried out under emergency conditions, and 10% (n = 61) were PTTs. Accordingly, 59.8% (n = 73) of the HBO-treated patients were considered at risk for a severe clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 5.7% (n = 7) of the HBO-treated patients during the HBO treatment period. Besides, two inside attendants (14.3%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. There were only two concurrent cases in the same session among SARS-CoV-2 positive cases. The records revealed that these patients were sitting three seats away from each other. Another patient was sitting in between the two infected patients but was not diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: There is no clear evidence that these two patients infected each other; on the contrary, since no other patient was infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the same session, we may suspect that the infections were coincidental. The measures taken in our department seem to suffice in preventing in-session transmission of COVID-19 and similar infectious diseases in an HBO centre.

Abstract

Background: A hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment session carries a high risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission since patients stay in a closed area for 2 hours. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the preventive measures taken in the HBO centre.
Materials and methods: This study evaluated the measures taken during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic for multiplace hyperbaric chamber operated in department (Health Sciences University-Gulhane Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey) between March 16th, 2020 and December 31st, 2020. The medical records of patients who underwent HBO treatment during this period were evaluated retrospectively. Their demographic attributes, the presence of risk factors, HBO indications, HBO session data, and COVID-19 inquiry forms were analysed.
Results: A total of 122 patients underwent HBO treatment, and 150 people were subjected to pressure tolerance test (PTT). No COVID-19 case was treated with HBO in our department. The hyperbaric chamber was operated 608 times in total. Of these, 9.7% (n = 59) procedures were carried out under emergency conditions, and 10% (n = 61) were PTTs. Accordingly, 59.8% (n = 73) of the HBO-treated patients were considered at risk for a severe clinical presentation of SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 was detected in 5.7% (n = 7) of the HBO-treated patients during the HBO treatment period. Besides, two inside attendants (14.3%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. There were only two concurrent cases in the same session among SARS-CoV-2 positive cases. The records revealed that these patients were sitting three seats away from each other. Another patient was sitting in between the two infected patients but was not diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.
Conclusions: There is no clear evidence that these two patients infected each other; on the contrary, since no other patient was infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the same session, we may suspect that the infections were coincidental. The measures taken in our department seem to suffice in preventing in-session transmission of COVID-19 and similar infectious diseases in an HBO centre.

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Keywords

hyperbaric oxygen, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, transmission, measures

About this article
Title

The outcomes of COVID-19 measures in a hyperbaric oxygen therapy centre during the pandemic

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 72, No 3 (2021)

Article type

Original article

Pages

228-236

Published online

2021-09-29

Page views

7405

Article views/downloads

1134

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2021.0042

Pubmed

34604994

Bibliographic record

IMH 2021;72(3):228-236.

Keywords

hyperbaric oxygen
COVID-19
SARS-CoV-2
transmission
measures

Authors

Kubra Ozgok-Kangal
Taylan Zaman
Bayram Koc

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